Arizona Cardinals camp critical for 3 defenders

FLAGSTAFF - Coach Ken Whisenhunt places a positive spin on some of the Cardinals' personnel losses this off-season, expressing his excitement to see some young players finally get their chance.

But for some young defenders, it could be their last chance. End Alan Branch, nose tackle Gabe Watson and safety Rashad Johnson need impressive preseason performances to earn roster spots.

The Cardinals have made significant investments in all three players, and they have yet to provide a consistent return. Branch, a second-round draft pick in 2007, has been overweight much of his career. Watson, a fourth-round pick in 2006, has battled weight and injury problems.

Johnson, a third-round selection in 2009, didn't produce when given a chance late last season.

For Branch, the first step toward success was losing weight.

"Last year I watched film, and I looked kind of sloppy," Branch said. "I wanted to make sure I looked good on film and ran better."

Branch has been the biggest disappointment. The Cardinals traded a fourth-round pick in 2007 in order to move up to select Branch 33rd overall.

Yet, he never has started a game and played in only four in 2008. He was listed at 338 pounds in the media guide but often was considerably heavier.

This off-season, however, he took his conditioning seriously. He's at 320 pounds, the lightest he has been since he played at Michigan.

"The only year I'm disappointed in, when I wasn't a true professional, was my second year, coming to camp overweight," Branch said. "I didn't have the passion I always had for it. It was a deep hole.

"Right now I'm just trying to show the coaches that I'm having fun. If they want to put me in the game, cool. You would probably have fun watching me, too."

Branch didn't do anything special to lose the weight. He credits the acquisition of a girlfriend, who has him reaching for cooking utensils, not takeout menus. Meals prepared at home tend to have fewer calories, he said.

"You don't want to have that rap: This guy ate himself out of the league," Branch said. "So I'm trying to make sure I'm healthy."

Like Branch, Watson is in the best shape of his career. He weighed 324 pounds at the start of camp, and though he still receives treatment for a knee condition, Watson said he is moving better than he has in two seasons.

Only in his second season, Johnson's situation is a bit different than Watson's and Branch's. His problems last year were on the field. He blew some assignments and missed too many tackles.

"There were definitely times where I was like, 'What's going on? I can play better than this,' " Johnson said. "It was all a comfort level. After a year of playing, an off-season here, I feel a lot more ease on the field."

The Cardinals drafted Johnson out of Alabama because he had a reputation for toughness and intelligence.

Johnson struggled, however, as a rookie. When the Cardinals had injuries in the playoffs, they used a veteran who had been with the team only a couple of weeks, Hamza Abdullah, instead of Johnson.

"What hurt him last year is he missed plays at certain times, wasn't in the right place at other times," Whisenhunt said. "Part of that is being a rookie and working your way through the position."

The Cardinals are deep at safety. Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes are the starters, and Matt Ware and Abdullah have experience. There might not be room for a fifth safety.

"I feel every year is critical," Johnson said. "Last year was critical, and this year even more. I'm ready to step in and do whatever they ask me to do. I'm going to show that throughout this camp."